--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Literature is the only access to truth we…" description: "\"Literature is the only access to truth we have on this planet.\" — Stephen Fry" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png" --- # Literature is the only access to truth we have on this… ![“Literature is the only access to truth we have on this planet.” quote by Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png) > “Literature is the only access to truth we have on this planet.” [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Literature uniquely reveals truth about humanity and existence **In simple terms:** Books are our best way to know truth Key Takeaway Read widely to understand reality Themes knowledge truth literature philosophy humanity Mood contemplative intellectual Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - education - personal growth - cultural insight Key Concepts epistemology narrative truth Questions to Reflect On - What truths have you found in a novel? - How does literature shape your worldview? A Different Perspective Literature can be biased or incomplete ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Literature](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/literature/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [When we're true to ourselves, we become instruments of truth for the planet. Because we're all connected, we touch the lives of everyone around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anita-moorjani/when-we-re-true-to-ourselves-we-become-instruments-of-truth-for-the/) [Anita Moorjani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anita-moorjani/) > [How sad, that the group with the most access to the truth chose in several strategic instances to look the other way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ashcroft/how-sad-that-the-group-with-the-most-access-to-the-truth-chose-in/) [John Ashcroft](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ashcroft/) > [Theatre critics have no special access to the truth. And there should be no objective truth to art.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-crouch/theatre-critics-have-no-special-access-to-the-truth-and-there-should/) [Tim Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-crouch/) > [I think no artist can claim to have any access to the truth, or an authentic version of an event. But obviously they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-think-no-artist-can-claim-to-have-any-access-to-the-truth-or-an/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Emotional access to the truth is the indispensable precondition of healing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-miller/emotional-access-to-the-truth-is-the-indispensable-precondition-of/) [Alice Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-miller/) > [“You can always trust information given to you by people who are crazy. They have access to truth not available through regular channels.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheila-ballantyne/you-can-always-trust-information-given-to-you-by-people-who-are-crazy/) [Sheila Ballantyne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheila-ballantyne/) > [Faith in the possibilities of continued and rigorous inquiry does not limit access to truth to any channel or scheme of things. It does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/faith-in-the-possibilities-of-continued-and-rigorous-inquiry-does-not/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [“Access to memories does not guarantee access to truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mitchell/access-to-memories-does-not-guarantee-access-to-truth/) [David Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mitchell/) > [You always have access to your truth. You always have access to the divine feminine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-laporte/you-always-have-access-to-your-truth-you-always-have-access-to-the/) [Danielle LaPorte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danielle-laporte/) > [There is only one way to gain access to the truth and that is to not expect anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-de-niro/there-is-only-one-way-to-gain-access-to-the-truth-and-that-is-to-not/) [Robert De Niro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-de-niro/) > [Our goal is to give all Americans front-door access to the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-c-maynard/our-goal-is-to-give-all-americans-front-door-access-to-the-truth/) Robert C. Maynard > [“The same Sermon on the Mount that influenced Tolstoy to write “The Kingdom of God is Within You”, inspired me to a great extent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abhijit-naskar/the-same-sermon-on-the-mount-that-influenced-tolstoy-to-write-the/) [Abhijit Naskar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abhijit-naskar/) > [Nothing better protects a human being against the stupidity of prejudice, racism, religious or political sectarianism, and exclusivist nationalism than this truth that invariably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-vargas-llosa/nothing-better-protects-a-human-being-against-the-stupidity-of/) [Mario Vargas Llosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-vargas-llosa/) > [Black music has always known, and not been afraid to acknowledge just how high the stakes of Black thought are. To summarize the final…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-b-wilderson-iii/black-music-has-always-known-and-not-been-afraid-to-acknowledge-just/) Frank B. Wilderson III > [We're at a point in history were we have to become a part of the neighborhood of inhabited planets, like a neighborhood of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-mitchell/we-re-at-a-point-in-history-were-we-have-to-become-a-part-of-the/) [Edgar Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-mitchell/) ## More by Stephen Fry > [“...Catholic versus Protestant, essentially. It's that kind of fight. ... And it goes on to this day. Will we never learn? Who knows? Religion.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/catholic-versus-protestant-essentially-it-s-that-kind-of-fight-and-it/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [How dare you? How dare you create a world in which there is such misery that is not our fault? It's not right, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/how-dare-you-how-dare-you-create-a-world-in-which-there-is-such/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“Look at the kind of people who most object to the childishness and cheapness of celebrity culture. Does one really want to side with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/look-at-the-kind-of-people-who-most-object-to-the-childishness-and/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [“The object of love should feel honoured or flattered, responsible in some way. Instead he felt insulted, degraded and revolted. More than that, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/the-object-of-love-should-feel-honoured-or-flattered-responsible-in/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [The only people who are obsessed with food are anorexics and the morbidly obese. 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Apart from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-ve-never-had-any-illusions-about-being-a-lead-actor-in-films/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [Because, let's face it, I do not get offered the parts that Brad Pitt has just turned down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/because-let-s-face-it-i-do-not-get-offered-the-parts-that-brad-pitt/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [I will defend the absolute value of Mozart over Miley Cyrus, of course I will, but we should be wary of false dichotomies. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/i-will-defend-the-absolute-value-of-mozart-over-miley-cyrus-of-course/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [You can't just say there is a god because the world is beautiful. You have to account for bone cancer in children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/you-can-t-just-say-there-is-a-god-because-the-world-is-beautiful-you/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [If you know someone who's depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isn't a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/if-you-know-someone-who-s-depressed-please-resolve-never-to-ask-them/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) > [It's as if scientists exert every effort of will they possess deliberately to find the least significant problems in the world and explain them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/it-s-as-if-scientists-exert-every-effort-of-will-they-possess/) [Stephen Fry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) [Explore all 466 Stephen Fry quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/) ## More Books quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [If I had a dollar for every time I couldn’t sleep, I could buy a billion locks and finally read a book in peace.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aesop-rock/if-i-had-a-dollar-for-every-time-i-couldn-t-sleep-i-could-buy-a/) [Aesop Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aesop-rock/) > [If what I write is literature, I guess you'd better emphasize the 'litter.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lydia-lunch/if-what-i-write-is-literature-i-guess-you-d-better-emphasize-the/) [Lydia Lunch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lydia-lunch/) > [My sentences got sharper and my stories more efficient, and I gradually learned to imagine the reader more clearly and to empathize with that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-thompson-walker/my-sentences-got-sharper-and-my-stories-more-efficient-and-i/) [Karen Thompson Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-thompson-walker/) > [Young men, especially in America, write to me and ask me to recommend “a course of reading.” Distrust a course of reading! People who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lang/young-men-especially-in-america-write-to-me-and-ask-me-to-recommend-a/) [Andrew Lang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lang/) > [“Within the pages of books, I've journeyed to Mandalay, the Milky Way and Santa Fe, without once having to leave my armchair.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-ansbro/within-the-pages-of-books-i-ve-journeyed-to-mandalay-the-milky-way/) [Kevin Ansbro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-ansbro/) > [The Rosary is the book of the blind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fulton-j-sheen/the-rosary-is-the-book-of-the-blind/) [Fulton J. Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fulton-j-sheen/) > [“Tacitus did not write a most dangerous book. His readers made it so.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-k-krebs/tacitus-did-not-write-a-most-dangerous-book-his-readers-made-it-so/) Christopher K. Krebs > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [Reader, if you are gifted with nerves like mine, aspire to any character but that of a wit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-lamb/reader-if-you-are-gifted-with-nerves-like-mine-aspire-to-any/) [Charles Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-lamb/) > [I have many who keep me going, I am very fortunate in this sense. There is nothing like a child who knows more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/floyd-cooper/i-have-many-who-keep-me-going-i-am-very-fortunate-in-this-sense-there/) [Floyd Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/floyd-cooper/) > [I think books in which people are really happy and things are going well are probably the most challenging novels there are to write,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-quindlen/i-think-books-in-which-people-are-really-happy-and-things-are-going/) [Anna Quindlen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-quindlen/) > [It's like the query letter problem that I just mentioned, magnified a hundredfold. You might be good at telling a story, but that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/it-s-like-the-query-letter-problem-that-i-just-mentioned-magnified-a/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [“Be careful about reading health books. Some fine day you'll die of a misprint.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/markus-herz/be-careful-about-reading-health-books-some-fine-day-you-ll-die-of-a/) Markus Herz > [But editors are still the world's readers. And thus the eyes of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-lerner/but-editors-are-still-the-world-s-readers-and-thus-the-eyes-of-the/) [Betsy Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-lerner/) [Browse all 59,485 Books quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Literature is the only access to truth we have on this planet.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Stephen Fry" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-we-have-on-this-planet/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Books" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-we-have-on-this-planet/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d5a/stephen-fry-573_books_literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-w_1774501.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Literature is the only access to truth we have on this planet.” — Stephen Fry", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Stephen Fry", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-fry/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Literature is the only access to...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-we-have-on-this-planet/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-fry/literature-is-the-only-access-to-truth-we-have-on-this-planet/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```